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Get ready for a new season with Phil Stacey

Jan. 13, 20096:35 p.m.

Editor’s note: This is an excerpt of Phil Stacey’s column that appeared in Sunday’s Wichita Eagle.

If you are a fan of “American Idol,” I’ve got some great stories that I can’t wait to share with you over the next few months. During the course of this season, I will be your eyes behind the curtain, sharing information that only a former contestant can know.

Many of you may remember me as the bald guy on Sanjaya’s season, or the Navy man who missed his daughter’s birth when he auditioned. Both are true. But I am also a Kansan at heart, having graduated in 1997 from Northwest High School in Wichita.

What makes me an expert on “American Idol”? Well, I was a finalist on Season 6 two years ago. I was voted off the show, along with my friend and fellow contestant Chris Richardson, in fifth and sixth place.

After participating in the Idols Live Tour ‘07, I signed with Disney’s Lyric Street Records and recorded a country album that debuted at No. 8 on Billboard’s country chart.

I have since toured the nation about 18 times, opening for some of the biggest names in country music. I have also performed on stages that I have dreamed of since childhood, including Carnegie Hall and the Grand Ole Opry. Now, I’m working on a follow-up record that will be released toward the middle of this year.

I wanted to write this blog to give fans a special glimpse into the phenomenon that is “American Idol.” After all, I have been a fan myself since watching Kelly Clarkson nail her rendition of Aretha Franklin’s “Respect” during Season 1.

In some ways, being an “Idol” finalist made me feel like one of Willy Wonka’s golden ticket recipients. There were so many amazing things to see, and I got to see it all.

So be sure to tune in this week for my first installment. I’ll go into detail about the audition process and tell you which contestants to be watching in the coming episodes.

I’ll also give you the key to success in the first rounds of auditions and how I made it through to Hollywood.

Also, I will be available to answer any questions you may have at the e-mail address listed below. Going through this season with you will be an adventure I’m eager to get under way. Make sure to let all of your friends who are “Idol” fans know that we will be taking this journey together.

By Denise Neil | Filed under Uncategorized | Comments Off

Phil’s working, I’m resting

Jan. 9, 20093:24 p.m.

“Idol” fans:

It is with mixed emotions that I, Denise Neil, a two-year veteran of “American Idol” recap blogging, hand over this space to a far more qualified observer.

Season 6 finalist and Wichita native Phil Stacey — who is the whole reason this blog was started in the first place — contacted the Eagle and volunteered to write the recaps for this year’s show. He plans to offer his unique behind-the-scenes perspective as well as his observations on each night’s episode.

Stacey now lives in Nashville and is working on his second country music album since wrapping the show. He’s a nice, friendly, funny guy and I can’t wait to hear what he has to say.

His first blog entry should appear here after Tuesday night’s premiere. Stay tuned…

By Denise Neil | Filed under Uncategorized | Comments Off

YAY COOKIE!

May 21, 20089:56 p.m.

images-11.jpegSometimes, I really enjoy being wrong. (Not that I have a lot of practice at it. I’m just saying.)

Tonight is one of those nights.

For the record, I still really do think that the fix was in last night. Those judges were certainly attempting to browbeat us into picking Archie, as you fine commenters call him, and Simon all but said as much in his too-little-too-late apology tonight.

But it didn’t work, and wow, it’s so refreshing to know that 56 percent of people who voted (though 97 million? Really???) saw things the right way.

YAY!!!!!!!

David Cook wins, and my faith in humanity, “American Idol,” Blue Springs, Mo., and ZZ Top is restored. At least for now.

Here’s hoping that the shackles of “Idol” victory aren’t too stifling for such a great musician. Though by the way David Cook so gamely danced and cheesed his way through all those gawdawful group dance numbers this season, something tells me that he knows how to play well with others. He should be fine.

I will say this about David Archuleta: For one, that kid was a gracious, gracious loser. If he was devastated not to hear his last name called, he really didn’t show it. (Although, if I’m being honest, the look he had on his face after losing was pretty much the only look he’s had on his face all season. Well, except when he was lip lubing.)

But there’s also this: Watching Archuleta sing two contemporary, age-appropriate songs tonight — first “Hero” in a duet with Cook and then “Apologize” with One Republic, something became very clear to me. David A.’s only attempt at being current all season was his terribly awkward Chris Brown cover. If he’d tried something like “Apologize” earlier and more often, I think I might have actually understood him. He was so totally limited by the STOOOOOPID “Idol” theme night format that I couldn’t really see his true potential until TONIGHT. And trust me, I was looking for it all season long.

A few other thoughts on tonight’s never-ending finale.

Okay, I get it. It’s a big, exciting night. But TWO HOURS????

There were some high points. Loved watching Cook take the helm of ZZ Top. Loved watching my boyfriend Robert Downey Jr. shake it like a Pip. Loved that done-wrong Michael Johns was given a little extra stage time and that Carly was able to dig those black tights out of the back of her unmentionables drawer.

But a lot of it was sort of depressing. More dippy dance numbers. More shameless promotion of soon-to-be-released movies. And far too many depressing reminders that all our favorite ’80s pop stars are no longer ready for their closeups. This means you, Bryan Adams and George Michael.

Well, Idol Thoughts friends, this is it for us this year. Thank you for reading, and mostly, thank you for all your thoughtful discourse. This little corner of Kansas.com has been amazingly civilized over the past several months, and I truly appreciate all of you.

And special thanks to all my faithful posters, including my friend and fill-in Monica, as well as Hawkmama, memaw, Hooked on Idol, boobookitty, etc. I only met one of you, but I liked you all — even when you so foolishly disagreed with me. KIDDING!

Maybe I’ll see you back in January. Since the right David did win after all, we can all keep watching. WHEW!

By Denise Neil | Filed under Top 12 | Comments (31)

It’s so fixed

May 20, 20089:43 p.m.

images.jpegAbout halfway through tonight’s David v. David episode of “American Idol,” my friend Bob called to tell me that David A. was kicking David C.’s you-know-what.

I was delayed starting the show, but I told Bob that I’d consult my DVR and judge for myself.

And speaking of judges, Bob, do you believe that A was triumphing over C because that’s what you really think? Or do you believe it because that’s what the judges TOLD you to think???

This show is so fixed.

I’ve had that feeling in my gut since the 4,000th time the judges lavished praise upon another so-so Archuleta impersonation of a robot singing Josh Groban. It just doesn’t add up. Even SIMON COWELL refuses to criticize this kid, and although he’s a talent for sure, I’m sorry, folks — he’s not THAT good!!

By my count, tonight was a draw, at best.

First we had two Davids delivering great performances of the songs chosen by the guest mentors, Clive Davis and my favorite Brit Andrew Lloyd Weber. Cook really put some life into “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For,” easily conquering those soaring Bono notes. And Archuleta — I can admit — put more feeling into “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down On Me” than I’ve seen him muster. Ever.

That’s a draw.

Round two, both contestants made the absolute most out of the incredibly schlocky “This is My Now” garbage foisted upon them by “songwriters.” (Aaron Sidwell, you were SO robbed.)

That’s another draw.

Round three, David C. refused to play it safe, choosing not to retread a song he’d already been praised for but boldly trying a new one — Collective Soul’s “The World I Know” — and singing the heck out of it.

Meanwhile, Archuleta chose to redo “Imagine,” the song that the judges first went ga-ga over way back at the beginning of the season. And in my estimation, he didn’t do it half as well as he did the first time. It was oversung, overwrought and actually felt a little desperate. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE AMERICA SAVE ME FROM DADDY!!!!!!

Sorry, Simon, I say that round goes to Cook.

But the trouble is that Simon, Paula and Randy are being paid (handsomely) to usher through Archuleta, not Cook. So Cook gets dumped on while the judges very unsubtly tell America, “David Archuleta has won this thing. Now make him the winner or we’ll do it for you!”

I’m sorry to be so harsh, but I really think I’m right here. If the bigger talent, Cook, wins tomorrow night, I’ll take it all back. Or, I’ll just insist that America fought back against the brainwashing and that there is hope for the future after all.

So what did you think? Am I crazy here? Who should win? Who will win? And did Simon’s icky, greasy chest hair make anyone else a little queasy?

By Denise Neil | Filed under Top 12 | Comments (64)

Most popular “Idol” ever?

May 19, 20082:43 p.m.

underwood.jpgAccording to a poll released today, Carrie Underwood is America’s favorite “Idol” winner (though I’m partial to Kelly Clarkson.)

The poll also names Jason Castro as this season’s most overrated singer and Michael Johns as the loser most likely to win in the end.

Thoughts?

By Denise Neil | Filed under Idol links, Uncategorized | Comments (12)

Sayonara, Syesha

May 14, 20089:39 p.m.

syesha2asa2.jpgOkay, so I take back my premature complaints about the lack of hometown visit footage on Tuesday night. Tonight’s installment of “American Idol” was chock full of homecoming excitement, all of which was well-edited, fairly moving and pretty informational.

We found out, for example, that David Archuleta isn’t always so robotic. Watching him get choked up at his hometown rally reminded me that he’s really just a little boy stuck on a ride he can’t get off of. Not that he wants to.

We also found out that an elderly dignitary in Sarasota, Fla., can do one heck of a handstand and isn’t afraid to prove it.

And in Kansas City, we learned that John Holt (formerly of KSN fame) is indeed still alive and kicking … and employed!

After a full hour of all of that, we also learned what we sorta already knew. Syesha is done, and the David-David showdown is on. That’s probably as it should be, though I still say David C. is the bigger of the two talents.

A few observations: Syesha was among the more gracious losers we’ve seen this season. The girl got to the TOP THREE, and she took the news of her ouster with poise and dignity. Even more, not a single note of her farewell song was garbled by excess phlegm buildup caused by excess blubbering. Bravo, Syesha!

I also was struck by how far David Cook has come in the image department since the early rounds. I barely recognized that kinda pudgy, kinda awkward guitar guy at the auditions. Those “Idol” stylists are nothing if not masters of the makeover.

So what did you think? Are the finals as they should be? Would you ever thrust your infant into the arms of a moving “American Idol” finalist? And will next week indeed be, as Simon predicted, a “HUMDINGER?!?!?!?!”

By Denise Neil | Filed under Top 12 | Comments (90)

May the best David win

May 13, 200810:21 p.m.

869-americanidol0002_me_5-9-08_jfs2embeddedprod_affiliate81.jpgSeriously? That’s all we get from the hometown visits? David A. with the freaky mustachioed mayor? Syesha getting a text message in a limo? David C. goofing on Kansas City’s Fox Channel 4?

What about that David Cook parade? That David Cook concert in the Power and Light District? That David cook pitch at the Royals game?

I would be more upset if my “Idol” of choice, Kansas City’s David Cook, had not completely set himself apart on Tuesday as the absolute only logical choice for this year’s “Idol” title.

Those “Idol” producers aren’t stupid. They’re still smarting from the Daughtry debacle, and they’re not about to let a legit rocker lose it again this time. At least that’s what I’m hoping.

My Kansas City allegiance aside, I think it was still pretty clear on Tuesday that David Cook is the most talented of the remaining three contestants.

He managed to turn Roberta Flack’s soft and sentimental “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” into a legitimate rock ballad, and he sang Aerosmith’s “I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing” way better than Stephen Tyler could ever hope to.

Are Syesha and David A. even in the same league? Her “If I Ain’t Got You” was pretty good, and his “And So It Goes” was among his least creepy performances ever, but as a whole, the soon-to-be runners up didn’t even come close to delivering anything worth remembering.

Oh, wait. I take that back. Sadly, I will never stop remembering David Archuleta’s cover of Chris Brown’s “With You.” Dressed in his best Blake Lewis-wear, poor David danced like he was at his first seventh-grade mixer. Worse, he sang the lyric “boo,” a term that a little baby face like David should use only if it’s Halloween. Mark that down as one of the most awkward performances in “Idol”‘ history.

I’m still predicting a David-David finale, and if it isn’t Cook, a great injustice will have been committed, and I will lead an army to the Power and Light district in protest.

So what did you think? Will it be David and David? Didn’t it feel like the judges were trying to influence voters against Syesha? And who’s going to win it all?

By Denise Neil | Filed under Top 12 | Comments (27)

The Blue Springs parade is on!

May 7, 20089:29 p.m.

jason_c.jpgOohhhhh, but the one in Rockwall, Texas, is off.

As predicted by the mince-no-words Sir Cowell, Jason Castro’s packed bags will come in handy tonight because he’s out, a victim of his own doing. Give an accuracy award to whichever friend told Jason that he “Shot the Tambourine Man” on Tuesday night.

This means that David Archuleta, David Cook and Syesha Mercado are in the top three. It also means that all the Cook-related festivities planned in the Kansas City area will go on as planned on Friday.

What to make of the final three? I’m glad David Cook is in it. I still think it’ll be a David-David finale. And I still say that if Cook doesn’t win, “Idol” will have officially jumped the shark. I’ll try to stop short, though, of the predictable behavior of swearing “Idol” off for good when my favorite contestant is cut.

One comment before we finish. Who, I demand to know, is responsible for those dreadful, ill-fitting matador outfits the contestants were forced to pour themselves into for this week’s Ford commercial? My screen was suddenly filled ALL KINDS of sides of those four people I did not need to see. Furthermore, can we please cut the cheesy choreography of the opening results night number once the finalists are a rocker, a dreadlocker, a teenbot boy and one poor girl who has to carry the whole number herself? AWKWARD!!!!!

So what do you think? Who’s going to win it all? Who’s getting cut next week? And who’s ready for a roadtrip to KC on Friday?

By Denise Neil | Filed under C-ya | Comments (18)

David Cook’s homecoming

May 7, 20085:07 p.m.

david_cook2.jpgJUST IN CASE David Cook advances to “Idol’s” final three tonight, a big homecoming is planned for him in the Kansas City area.

According to an article in The Kansas City Star, a whole slate of appearances is planned for Cook on Friday, including a mini-concert in the new Power & Light District, a parade in Blue Springs (where he’s from), and a performance of “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” at a Royal’s game.

If he’s voted off tonight, though, all plans are off.

The city of Blue Springs has set up a David Cook hot line: 816-655-0490.

By Denise Neil | Filed under Uncategorized | Comments Off

Final four jitters

May 6, 20089:47 p.m.

Brooke White is gone, but apparently her soul-crushing, bone-shaking stage fright stayed behind and leapt, Oda Mae style, right into the body of Jason Castro.

Freed from the bonds of Andrew Lloyd Weber and Neil Diamond, Jason was free to choose practically any old song he wanted from the Rock-N-Roll Hall of Fame library. So he chose (”go figure,” and I’m quoting the singer himself) Bob Marley and Bob Dylan. And he massacred ‘em.

On the first song, “I Shot the Sheriff,” Jason overplayed it, obviously caving momentarily to the judges’ suggestion that he “bring it,” or at least bring SOMETHING different to the stage. The result was a messy, off-tune, uncomfortable mess of poor Jason Castro trying too hard.  Song two, “Mr. Tambourine Man,” would have been better if Jason  — perhaps shaken by Simon’s first-round tongue lashing — hadn’t lost an entire line of lyrics. Or four.

And so, sadly, I think Simon’s advice was accurate — pack your bags, Jason, because top four is as far as you’re going. I do love him, and I will miss him. But I don’t get the feeling he’s really all that into it anymore, anyway. Maybe this is as much exposure as he thought he needed, and now he’s off to bigger, dread-ier things.

Jason really is toast, I fear, because the evictee of choice — Syesha Mercado — actually did “bring it” on Tuesday. Her “Proud Mary” was pretty believable, and her “A Change Is Gonna Come” was pretty moving … that is, after I recovered from her comparing her “Idol” journey to the CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT. By the way, love her sleek, sleek new do — even though I’m pro-curls.

David Cook was good as usual, but I agree with Randy. Something wasn’t quite on. He wasn’t bad, with his “Hungry Like the Wolf” and markedly better “Baba O’Riley.” He’s not in danger, but he needs to — well, “bring it,” next week.

And as for David A., well, what can I say? I renew my previous objections to his safe, vanilla always-the-same performances and the judges’ subsequent salivation over said safe performances. Although I thought his “Love Me Tender” was better than most of his past songs, I still wasn’t blown away. In fact, I can’t remember much at all about his “Stand By Me.” I was thinking about something else.

So what do you think? Was Paula particularly coherent tonight? Isn’t her hair looking pretty fab these days? And does Jason have any hope at all?

By Denise Neil | Filed under Archuleta worship, Top 12 | Comments (31)